FORT MEADE, Md. – A female soldier at Guantanamo Bay says an order barring women from jobs that require physical contact with male prisoners makes her feel less of a soldier.

The military policewoman who name was not revealed testified Wednesday at a pretrial hearing for Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi (AHB'-dahl HAH'-dee ahl-ee-RAH'-kee) at the military base in Cuba. The Associated Press covered the hearing from a video feed at Fort Meade near Baltimore.

The government is contesting a military judge's interim order barring female guards from jobs that would require them to touch al-Hadi while moving him to attorney-client meetings and court hearings. Al-Hadi contends his Muslim faith prohibits physical contact with females other than wives and close relatives.

Some female guards have filed equal opportunity complaints with the military over such orders.